dehydration

ok, so my 30 weeker (about 5mo actual 3 months corrected) has been choking on her feeds like crazy and as a result ids eating 1/2 what she used to (about 12oz a day) and has been not peeing all that much during the day and actually just had a dry diraper at 3am even though we woke her up to feed her (she last ate at 7pm)...

Im freaking out as we went through so much with her and DO NOT want to head back to the NICU for an IV...anybody had a similar pb? What should I do...We tried waking her up at night more times before but she doesn't want ot eat and Im afraid to screw up her night rythm...

I will call my ped tomorrow but would like to hear about other people's experience...

Comments (6)

I'm sorry you're having trouble with your LO, I can relate to the fear of dehydration. Mine never liked to eat much but we usually make it to 18-20 or so. She's 4 mo (2.5 mo adjusted), did you change anything about feeding? Did the choking just started? When my LO wasn't eating (reflux aaargh) and throwing up, the GI doc let us give her a little Pedialyte. It's temporary, but maybe you should just give a call to the pedi?

if she doesn't want to eat it could be that she is dehydrated and therefore lethargic, so I'd be really careful. I wouldn't hesitate to page the pediatrician on call even in the middle of the night (it's their job! don't feel bad) unless she's acting really vigorous and normal. she will not end up in the NICU if she's 3 months corrected though. my dd had to be readmitted for a surgical procedure for postop observation and was on the regular ped floor. they may drop an ng tube to at least get some food in her belly though. is she sick? why is she choking? i think that if you take into consideration how she's acting: normal vs. overtired/lethargic, that may help you determine how urgent it is.

I was concerned about dehydration with DD a couple of weeks ago. Her teeth have her stomach so upset. I called the pedi just to know what signs I need to be looking for. They said that if any of these happen, call them back or go to the ER. 1. reduced peeing 2. dry mouth 3. no tears The nurse really urged not to mess around with dehydration in a baby.

I hope that things are okay for your DD and she's feeling better soon.

--

*Leslie*

Corbyn - 2-18-09 born at 30 weeks at 1lb 10oz & 13" due to reverse flow and IUGR. Dreams do come true!!web.me.com/michael.farris

I just went to Urgent Care this weekend for my son who had a cold, and was eating about half. The cold I could handle, but man anytime he doesn't eat well, I just get those big NICU red flags again (we were in the NICU 12 days because he just wouldn't gain weight). They warned about dehydration too..no tears, no wet diapers for 12 hours and refusing food for 8 hours. They said go to the ER (this was at 8pm Sunday night).

He is on Neosure fortifed to 24 calories. I made a parental executive decision and started mixing it back at 22 calories this week while he finishes the cold so he would get more fluid before getting full - I too worried about dehydration. What does your babies soft spot look like? We have a nurse that visits us as a result of our NICU stay and she says if the soft spot is really sunken in, its a sign of deydration.

well she acts normal and def has tears, her fontanelle isnt sunken in or anything...she clearly refuses to eat at times at it gets really old...I soooo dont want to put an ng tube in (had 1 for the first 2.5mo of her life)

the choking seems to be reflux related and prevacid seems to help some...

That's the thing that scares me when my LO doesn't want to eat.. The thought she'll get a tube down her stomach. We also had trouble gaining weight in nicu, that kept us there for about a week longer, and I always get scared of her being admitted to hospital because she won't eat..